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The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit recognized Gene Clark, gunsmith for the AMU since 1988.

Clark did extensive testing and research and development on the M-249 SAW, 242 chain gun and the M-9 pistol.

He was also a primary contributor in the development of the modified M-16A2. His work over the years has played a vital role in the overall development of the AR-15 in Service Rifle and other performance uses. His work contributed greatly to the advancements that took the M16A2 from a “rack grade” rifle to a precision platform. Free float tubes, chamber and barrel design, and the construction of the first SDM rifles were created in large part to Mr. Clark’s expertise and effort. During his tenor, he also directly contributed to the improved sniper weapons system for the U.S. Army.

Members of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) held a memorial Excellence In Competition match for SFC Tung Nguyen at Range 65, Fort Bragg on November 20.

3D SFG(A) invited members of the U.S. Army Reserve Competition Marksmanship Program to help conduct this event as they wanted an official EIC match to be part of their memorial for SFC Nguyen.

SFC Tung M. Nguyen, 38, a Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, died Nov. 14, 2006, as a result of a gunshot wound during combat operations in Baghdad. Nguyen was born in Cantho, Vietnam, became a U.S. citizen, and was raised in Tracy, Calif. He enlisted as an infantryman in 1986.

In 1991, he reentered active duty, and served with 1st Bn., 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky., for one year before volunteering for Special Forces training. Nguyen began his journey to become a Special Forces Soldier in 1992 and earned the coveted Green Beret when he graduated from the course in 1993. He was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash., that year and served in all three combat battalions during his tenure there, first as a communications sergeant and then as an intelligence sergeant.

In 2003, Nguyen was chosen to become an instructor at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He served in both instructor and operations positions, preparing Special Forces Soldiers for the rigors of combat, until February 2006 when he was assigned 3rd SFG where he served until his death.

Among his many awards and decorations, Nguyen was a Distinguished Pistol Shot, the winner of the 2006 Small Arms Championship Sniper Class competition, and the 2006 Joint Special Operations Command Small Arms Championship Pistol Class competition.

USARCMP members were informed by 3D SFG(A) Soldiers that, “Most members of SOF (Special Operations Forces) use competitive shooting as a training tool. Our gear looks like that used in 3-Gun because that sort of practical competition is how we set up equipment.”

Excellence In Competition, Service Conditions, and 3-Gun are all formats used by USARCMP to validate and improve marksmanship programs throughout the Army Reserve. The USARCMP is honored to have been invited to this 3D SFG(A) memorial marksmanship event for SFC Tung Nguyen.

Fort Bragg, NC – Soldiers from various units compete in the FORSCOM Small Arms Competition hosted by the 82nd Airborne Division on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Throughout the fourth week of October 2017, three groups of competitors test their abilities in using one of three small arms weapons, the M249 Saw, Pistol and M4 Carbine.

Members of the USAR CMP provided support and conducted the Excellence In Competition portion of the event.

Some remarks respecting the training of a raw countryman, or a mechanic from Birmingham, perfectly awkward and generally very ignorant. He is consigned to the superintendence of the drill serjeant. He is first taught to walk, next to march, and hold himself tolerably erect.

Then a firelock is placed in his hands, which he handles at first as awkwardly as a bear would a plumb cake. When he is taught the manual exercise and fit to do regimental duty, they then take him to fire powder. Whilst the drill serjeant is teaching him to fire either by files or by platoons, the serjeant says to him, laying his cane along the barrels of the firelocks, ‘Lower the muzzles of your pieces, my lads, otherwise when you come into action, you will fire over the enemy.’

After this the recruit is taken to fire ball at a target. How is he taught? Thus he is spoken to: ‘Take steady aim, my lad, at the bull’s eye of the target; hold your piece fast to the shoulder that it may not hurt you in the recoil; when you get your sight, pull smartly.’ This is the general way in which I believe they are taught, and in the name of truth and common sense permit me to ask you how a drill serjeant who is no marksman himself can teach an ignorant countryman or a low order of a mechanic to be a good marksman. In my humble opinion, excellent in their way as they are to discipline the soldier and form him for parade and actual service in the line, the serjeant is just as capable of teaching him how to solve one of Sir Isaac Newton’s problems as to teach him to be a marksman.